ROLE OF STEROID GROWTH PROMOTER ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND MEAT QUALITY TRAITS IN BROILER

Abstract

Chicken is a preferred choice among nutritionists and health professionals due to its exceptionally low fat content. Compared to red meat, chicken boasts significantly lower fat levels:

- Chicken: less than 3g of fat per 100g serving

- Red meat: 5-7g of fat per 100g serving

This striking difference makes chicken an attractive option for those seeking a leaner protein source. As a result, poultry industry is expanding rapidly, playing a pivotal role to meet the protein needs through supply of affordable nutritious eggs and meat, especially in today’s world's with fast growing population. Poultry products offer high-quality proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, while being relatively low in cholesterol. However, growing industrialization and resultant greenhouse gases impact on environment perpetuated pollution, thereby increase the risk of poultry feed contamination with toxic substances during processing. Poultry feed can be affected by chemical, biological, or physical hazards, resulting from handling, during storage and, transportation, or intentional/ accidental contamination.

Ensuring food safety is crucial to prevent adverse effects in humans and animals, as poultry products can potentially harbor infectious agents, antimicrobial residues, and pesticides, thus posing significant health risks and my include but not limited to:

- Causing rising Antimicrobial-resistance (AMR), resulting from ingesting antimicrobial treated poultry.

- Campylobacter and Salmonella infections becoming prominent food safety concerns.

- Heavy metal contamination (lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, iron, copper, and zinc) in poultry increasingly threatens public health.